Featured photos

Canada got the last hurrah at the Celebration of Light Saturday evening, closing the three-night event with a winning display. Canada was declared the winner of the event, with Brazil and China finishing second and third, respectively.

The Northern Gateway Pipeline is fundamental to our future; it will provide tomorrow’s generation with an economic legacy to ensure their prosperity.

Canada is blessed with an abundance of natural resources. Those resources have been a tremendous source of our economic strength and independence. And in an uncertain world, driven by the forces of economic globalization, our resource wealth remains the foundation of our economic and political stability, giving us the opportunity to build an even better society for all Canadians.

That’s why the decision on whether to proceed with the Northern Gateway Pipeline is so fundamental to our future. In the same way that the national railway, and later the Trans-Canada Highway, brought Canadians together and helped fuel generations of economic growth, the Northern Gateway Pipeline will provide tomorrow’s generation of Canadians with an economic legacy that will help them secure their prosperity and Canada’s future.

Given the scope of the project, it’s quite natural that the debate surrounding Northern Gateway has been vigorous. Canadians hold strong values.

From our commitment to economic growth and a clean environment, to our shared sense of responsibility embodied in strong social programs like Medicare, the decisions we make have to meet the high test of Canadian values.

This is particularly true when it comes to protecting our environment. And those of us who believe in the Northern Gateway’s potential to secure our economic future have a unique responsibility to address environmental concerns in an objective, fact-based, and transparent manner.

To that end, I want to address concerns that have been expressed about maritime safety on B.C.’s coast. Let me say first that those of us associated with the project take these concerns very seriously. B.C.’s coastal waters are an integral part of our economy and our culture, particularly for First Nations peoples. The protection of these waters and coastline must be a priority for the project.

It is important to remember that right now in Canada, every year we move tens of millions of barrels of oil out of Vancouver ports, including diluted bitumen. And over the past 25 years, 1,500 tankers carrying petroleum products have docked safely in Kitimat.

Indeed, there is a tremendous amount of trade, from lumber to fish minerals, from coal to all kinds of containerized consumer products — all carried in large ships in and out of Canadian ports.

Every one of these vessels is governed by Canadian legislation that sets out the regulations and standards that are in turn enforced by the applicable government agency.

Under these regulations, it is required that all of the tankers calling at our Kitimat terminal must be double-hulled, communicate with the Canadian Coast Guard, and be guided by professional B.C. Coast Pilots.

But as good as Canadian regulations are, we understand our responsibility to do even more. That’s why we are taking significant additional measures to improve the safety of tanker navigation and to be prepared to act in the unlikely event of a tanker incident.

For example, all tankers transiting the coastal channels will be escorted by powerful tugs. Laden tankers will have a tug tethered to their stern ready to act immediately should the tanker need assistance.

We will also ensure that new land-based radar be installed before operations — a first for B.C.’s north coast. And we’ll work with the Canadian Coast Guard to increase and enhance other navigational aids.

What’s more, we installed additional weather stations and we are taking steps to address concerns about weather conditions by establishing operational limits for wind, waves, and visibility for both tankers under tug escort and terminal operations.

And because immediate response is the best way to contain and minimize adverse environmental effects, we are making every preparation to act quickly should an incident occur by requiring that tugs are equipped for first response, including firefighting, oil spill and ocean towing capabilities.

We are also proposing oil spill response in the shipping channels that is at least three times the response capabilities mandated by Transport Canada, which will be staged along the tanker routes.

Should a spill occur, ship owners will be required — by law, under the “polluter-pay principle” — to pay for the cost of cleanup and environmental restoration through mandated insurance.

In addition, there are international and Canadian pollution funds to cover the costs of spills over and above insured losses.

The Canadian fund has rarely been used given our excellent shipping record. Currently, available pollution funds stand at $1.3 billion.

Our marine plan has been thoroughly scrutinized by a number of federal agencies, including Transport Canada and the Canadian Coast Guard, and it forms the basis of our firm and unwavering commitment to protect B.C.’s coastline.

Canada’s natural abundance is the lifeblood of our culture and our economy. It’s what makes Canada a great country, with an even greater future.

Northern Gateway is a big part of that future and will provide every Canadian — particularly young Canadians and First Nations — with an economic inheritance that will open new doors of opportunity and allow us to build a more prosperous country for all our citizens.

To realize that future, Northern Gateway has to meet the highest standards possible for environmental safety and economic benefit. That’s our first commitment to British Columbians and all Canadians.

Janet Holder is a British Columbian and Enbridge’s senior executive in charge of Northern Gateway.

We encourage all readers to share their views on our articles and blog posts. We are committed to maintaining a lively but civil forum for discussion, so we ask you to avoid personal attacks, and please keep your comments relevant and respectful. If you encounter a comment that is abusive, click the "X" in the upper right corner of the comment box to report spam or abuse. We are using Facebook commenting. Visit our FAQ page for more information.